Submersion water heater



May 1, 1934. E. BRANAM SUBMERSION WATER HEATER Filed May 19, 1932 L ,Bra w, 00 if Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to electric heaters and sterilizers that are adapted to be submerged in the medium to be heated and has for its object the provision of a heater of the character stated that I is reasonable in cost of manufacture and is effective in operation, and that will require but the minimum amount of electric energy for accomplishing the purpose of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electric water heater employing spaced plates or disks of opposite polarity, the medium in which the plates are inserted providing the induction between the plates and also providing resistance to the current resulting in heating the medium.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved heater and sterilizer,

Figure 2, is a side view,

Figure 3, a sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5, a top plan view with the upper section of the casing removed.

In the drawing similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts in all of the views.

The improved water heater and sterilizer, as shown in the drawing, consists of spaced plates 1 and 2 of electrically conducting material, said plates being spaced by means of rings or disks 3 of non-conducting material. Secured to the plates 1 and 2 are the line wires 4 and 5, respectively, of an electric circuit, 6 indicating a plug secured to said line wires to a cable 7 that is adapted to be connected to a suitable outlet. 8 and 9 are binding posts on said plates 1 and 2, respectively, to which the wires 4 and are secured and include screws 10 and 11, the plates opposite said screws being provided with enlarged portions 12 and 13 for the insertion of the point of a screwdriver for adjusting the binding posts or connect the wires thereto. The plates 1 and 2 are also provided with central openings 14 and 15 for the reception of the wire 4, said openings 13, 14 and 15, and another opening 16 in said plates permitting the circulation of water through and between said plates during the operation of the device.

The plates or disks are enclosed within a casing or housing comprising corresponding sections 17 and 18 having their edges turned as shown at 19 and 20, respectively, and engage when the casing or housing is assembled, said sections being secured together coincidentally with the plates 1 and 2 by means of bolts 21 passed through openings in said sections and through openings in the plates 1 and 2 designated 22 and through the rings or disks 3. 23 indicates other disks of non-conducting material on the outer side of the plates or disks 1 and 2 and engaged by said bolts 21. In addition to an opening in the sections 1'7 and 18, designated 24, for the passage of the cable '7, said sections are provided with openings to permit circulation of water into, through and out of the housing or casing, the cold water entering through the under side of the housing and passing out through the upper side, thus creating a circulation through the housing and heating the water in the container in which the device is submerged.

In use it will be apparent that when the device is placed in a receptacle of water and the plates or disks 1 and 2 are electrically energized that current passing from one plate or disk to the other will be resisted by the water that is a poor conductor of electricity thus causing a generation of heat that is imparted to the water to raise its temperature. In using the heater for soft or rain water or distilled water it will be necessary to add a little salt to the water to provide for passage of the current therethrough.

What is claimed is:-

A submersion electric water heater, comprising a pair of electrical conductor plates, non-conductor disks separating said plates, a two-piece housing enclosing said plates, other non-conductor disks separating the housing members from the adjacent plates, threaded fastening members secured through the housing members, the plates and the non-conductor disks and collectively securing them together, the conductor plates and one housing member provided with alined openings to accommodate electric conductors for application to said plates, binding posts on the plates for connection to said conductors, each of said plates provided with an opening alined with the binding post on the other plate to accommodate a tool in adjusting the binding posts, and the housing and plates provided with other openings, all of said openings providing means for circulation of water through said housing and between and through the plates.

ELSWORTH BRANAM. 

